book4-600x120

by Richard
(Leicestershire, England)

like-pale-green-slugs-with-fleshy-scales

Pale green stems with rows of fleshy scales. The scales are usually in rows along the stems but not always. Stems spawn new stems in a seemingly random way.

Has produced a beetroot coloured flower about 3/4″ across. There seems to be a whole cluster of flower buds to follow on.

Comments for Like pale green slugs with fleshy scales

Nov 11, 2010
 What a description
by: Jacki

Hi Richard,
I love your description – very informative!

Your plant is one of the Huernia genus, a close relative of Stapelia; both are known as Carrion Flower for the stench of rotting meat that the flowers emit to attract insects to pollinate them. As it’s bloomed for you, that’s a good sign that you’re providing the right conditions.

Dry conditions and brightest light you can provide are best.
Nov 11, 2010
 The Sea Creature
by: Blue

It looks like a sea cucumber – are you sure it’s not from under the sea?
May 06, 2011
 asclepiad
by: jacquie

It’s one of the carrion flowers…smell it, it attracts flies. It is either a huernia or an orbea, family of the stapelia without the velvety leaves.
Mar 03, 2012
 Period of Blooming
by: Jill

I grew my plant from a small cutting someone gave me some time ago. It now blooms from February or March through November. Is this unusual? Also, the plant is getting pretty big for its pot. Should I transplant it? If so, when?

Drought Smart Plants reply:
In their native habitat, these plants would bloom after a prolonged drought followed by a rainy season to ensure that they get pollinated by flies.

It would always bloom when it has the most chance of the flies visiting it, so it’s hard to say if that is unusual or not.

If they’re like other plants that are similar, they’ll bloom best when they’re a bit pot bound, so transplanting it might reduce the bloom until it fills it up the pot again.

Here’s some more on Huernia schneideriana – read the comments there (Dave’s Garden Website) about how easy it is to grow.